Last year U.S. beef exports shattered the previous value record and achieved a new high for volume, according to year-end 2018 statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

Japan is the leading value destination for both U.S. beef and U.S. pork, says USMEF Economist Erin Borror, But, she cautioned that the competitive terrain in Japan has gotten steeper for U.S. red meat.

While China has seen some decline in consumer demand for pork, this is likely temporary, given that pork is such a longstanding and important staple of the Chinese diet. Does that leave opportunity for the U.S.?

2018 was a record-breaking year for U.S. pork exports to South Korea. The current environment is very different, as Korea’s pork production edged higher last year and imports increased from foreign suppliers.

2018 beef and pork exports will use a combined total of 14.9 million tons of corn and DDGS, which equates to an additional 459.7 million bushels of corn produced – an increase of 29 percent over the 2015 projections.